Friday, January 07, 2005

Cymbalta Wins Final EU Approval for Major Depression   Reuters Health story at Medscape - "European regulators approved Eli Lilly and Co's Cymbalta (duloxetine) as a treatment for major depression on Wednesday, giving a boost to a key new product for the U.S. firm. Lilly said it would make the product available 'soon' in Europe following the green light from the European Commission. The final approval had been widely expected after a positive recommendation from a committee of European scientific experts in September." [Viewing Medscape resources requires registration, which is free].  
  

Pharmacists Often Uneasy With Psychiatric Patients    Psychiatric News story - "Professional interactions between patients using psychiatric drugs and community pharmacists could be improved if pharmacists were better informed about treatment and diagnoses of patients with psychiatric illness. Pharmacists have positive attitudes toward patients who fill prescriptions for psychiatric medications but still feel so awkward talking to them that they provide less counseling about symptoms and side effects than to patients with medical diagnoses, says a new Canadian study."  
  

AMA to Study Safety of SSRIs In Youngsters    Psychiatric News story - "The decision is a response to the recognition that parents, physicians, and the public are confused and uncertain about the use of antidepressants in children and adolescents. Altha Stewart, M.D., chair of the Steering Committee to Reduce Disparities in Access to Psychiatric Care, discusses the committee's final report with former APA president Richard Harding, M.D., at last month's Board of Trustees meeting. See page 13 for coverage of the meeting. The AMA will prepare an independent and comprehensive review of the scientific data pertaining to safety and efficacy of using selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants in the treatment of child and adolescent psychiatric disorders."